Nitty-gritty Definition

nĭtē-grĭtē
noun
The actual, basic facts, elements, issues, etc.
Webster's New World
The specific or practical details; the heart of a matter.
American Heritage

Origin of Nitty-gritty

  • Uncertain, said to have been used at first by black jazz musicians, perhaps ultimately from reduplication nit and grits (finely ground corn), from Old English grytt, grytta (“coarse meal").

    From Wiktionary

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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